Unlike the Classes of 2021 and 2022, who will undoubtedly suffer from the aftermath of Covid, the Class of 2023 could be the first group of prospects able to restore normalcy to college athletics. The recruiting attention of scholarship-level coaches has been primarily centered on pursuing players who already have collegiate experience'rather than hunting for uncovered high school gems. As the dynamic shifts back, there should be a growing appeal for the current collection of sophomores'especially given the amount of underrated talent. This article will take a closer look at five prospects who should see a bump in rankings and attention from Division I coaches…
6'5 Bryce Cash (Charlotte Christian/Team Curry)
It should go without saying, but Bryce Cash's recruitment is certainly one of the more confusing situations throughout North Carolina. He earned a Liberty offer nearly two years ago, but the lack of traction since then is legitimately unnerving. Last season as the clear leader of Charlotte Christian, Cash averaged 15.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.4 SPG with 46% FG. Add in his IQ, size, and point guard ability, and he should already hold at least a handful of scholarship offers. Cash is simply reliable and consistently runs a team with poise on either end of the floor. Not only has he developed into a legitimate floor general over the last few years, but one should expect Cash to become a major target for various types of coaches going forward.
6'4 Jah Short (Farmville Central/Garner Road)
Arguably no prospect on this list is a safer breakout candidate than Jah Short, especially across the high school landscape. Given his incredible leadership and production with Garner Road, it's genuinely perplexing to try and make sense of his recruitment'or lack thereof. Short excels with the ball in his hands as a creator for himself and others, but also displays a useful cutting sense and ability to knock down shots off the catch. Although he regularly showcased high-level flashes with Farmville Central, the steps in his progression were largely overshadowed by Terquavion Smith's gaudy numbers. That being said, not enough folks are talking about Short's potential to be the Jaguars' best player in recent memory. He should seize the keys to the car next season and become a priority for a ton of next-level programs.
6'8 Jaydin Spillman-Martin (Winston-Salem Christian/Triad Blue Chips)
The appeal and intrigue of Jaydin Spillman-Martin is so unique could be detected by literally anyone'even those outside of the grassroots basketball industry. He possesses the rare combination of skill and rim-protection ability, which makes him an absolute nightmare matchup for opponents at 6-foot-8. Spillman-Martin displays touch with either hand, fluidity as an athlete, and already shoots the ball at an impressive clip for his size/position. He runs the floor well, rebounds at a steady rate, and embraces his identity on both ends of the floor. Although he's already made a ton of strides within his physical development, Spillman-Martin should only continue to get stronger and more athletic. The fact that Division I programs haven't extended scholarship offers is truly bizarre, as he has the tools and ability to ultimately finish his high school career towards the very top of his class.
6'8 Aaron Hall (Northside Christian/Team United)
Following an extremely productive travel ball season with the Charlotte Nets in 2020, Aaron Hall should've already seen his stock trend upward. However, here we are a full calendar year later and he's still widely underrated across the state. At 6-foot-8, Hall is a legitimate perimeter player with the ability to operate effectively from either forward position. His blend of size, skill, and athleticism makes him an extremely difficult matchup for various types of opponents. Hall can overwhelm smaller players with his size and is too fluid for bigger players to chase along the perimeter. Though he's still developing, Hall can already create his own shot and pose a useful cutting or shooting threat'whichever his team requires. Division I coaches should be monitoring Hall closely, as he seems increasingly likely to breakout over the next twelve months.
6'1 William Gray (East Forsyth/Team Curry)
Despite being fond of each prospect on this list, my personal likening for William Gray has been fairly obvious over the last calendar year. His high-level defensive qualities make him supremely underrated, as so much attention has shifted to combo-dribbles and thirty-foot jumpers. In contrast, Gray is a sharp, intelligent floor general with an excellent downhill sense and the ability to establish the tone on either side of the ball. He's a capable shooter, but tends to apply most of his scoring pressure as a downhill force and quick-twitch penetrator. Gray is a great all-around athlete with terrific vision, strong finishing ability, and a reliable transition presence. His production during the current travel ball season has only further solidified the ideal that college coaches should be extending offers to the heady point guard.
